Coin-controlled graphophone



No. 62l,834. Patented Mar. 28, I899.

T. H. MACDONALD.

OOIN CONTROLLED GRAPHOPHONE.

(Application filed Oct. 31, 1898.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet l.

No. s2|,as4. Patented Mar. 23, I899. T. u. MACDONALD. COIN CONTROLLED GRAPHOPHONE.

(Application filed Oct. 31, 189B.)

3 Shaets8heet 2.

-(No Model.)

i I I II H M I HHH IT |WW Q 3% Hz 3% v fi No. 62l,834. Patented Mar. 28, I899.

I T. H. MACDONALD.

COIN CONTROLLED GRAPHOPHONE.

(Application filed Oct. 31, 1898.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 8.

(No Model.)

UNH D- STATES PATENT FFIQE.

THOMAS H. MACDONALD, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN GRAPHOPHONE COMPANY, OF WEST VIRGINIA.

COlN-CONTROLLED GRAPHOPHONE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 621 ,834, dated March 28, 1899.

' Ap lication filed October 31, 1898. Serial No. 695,046. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that I, THOMAS H. MACDONALD, a resident of Bridgeport,Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Coin- Controlled Graphophones, which invention is fully set forth in the following specification.

My invention relates to coin controlled graphophones, and is herein described as applied to the well known spring-actuated graphophone. It provides means for locking the spring-motor against winding until the proper coin has been dropped into the slot, for throwing the reproducer into contact with the sound-record and the partial nut of the carrier into engagement with the feed-screw,

for holding these parts in position while the sound-record is being reproduced, for disengaging them at the end of the performance, for returning the parts to their initial positions, and for other purposes hereinafter described.

In United States Patent No. 582, 7 54, granted to me May 18, 1897, I have shown a coin-controlled graphophone which accomplishes most of the results above mentioned, and the invention embodied in the present application is an improvement thereon, whereby the construction is greatly simplified and the cost of manufacture much reduced.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification I have illustrated one form which my invention may assume, in which drawings- Figure 1 is a plan, and Fig. 2 a front elevation, of my invention as applied to the wellknown spring-actuated graphophone. Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the coin-lever and lock mechanism. Fig. 4 is a perspective of a section taken on the line 4 4 of Figs. 1 and 2; and Figs. 5 and 6 are end elevations on the same section-line, showing the parts in operative and inoperative positions, respectively.

In the figures, in which like letters refer to like parts throughout, A is the base-plate, which is fastened toa wooden base, forming the bottom of the inclosing box. (Not shown.)

A, A A A and A are vertical bearingplates secured to the base A, and B is the winding-shaft, turning in bearing-plates A A and supported at its outer end by the hearing B and carrying at the other end, next to the bearing-plate A,the gear-wheel B which in turn engages gear-wheel b on the shaft that carries the spring, as will be clearly understood. Situated on the extreme end of the shaft B, beyond A, is the ratchet C.

- D is the coin-lever, pivoted at d on A and so weighted that its nose drops into engagement with the ratchet C, thus locking shaft 13 against winding. The other end of lever D is carried back beneath the opening of the coin-chute x and is in the shape of a horizontal forked plate, the space between the arms of the fork being narrow enough to arrest the coin and hold it without passing. A stud a is mounted on plate A and projects outward between ratchet C and the forward end of lever D. Levers E and F are pivoted on this stud, the former having a hook e, normally extending slightly above the stud d on the lever 61. The lower end of lever E lies against an inturned flange f, projecting from the rear of lever F. When the coin is dropped into the slot and passes through the chute, it strikes at each side the arms of the fork, and thereby overbalances the forward end of lever D and raises its nose from engagement with the ratchet C. The coin is not at this time allowed to pass off the lever, as the latter is held against its extreme tipping movement by the engagement of hook e with stud (1. While the coin remains on the lever the latter cannot engage the ratchet C and the machine may be wound. hen the machine begins to run, however, a stud c on the face of the ratchet-wheel C strikes against the way, and as flange f on lever F engages leverE it carries the latter, with the lever F, in its swing. The result of this is that hook e is freed from the stud d and the weight of the coin depresses the lever D till the coin drops therefrom, thereby permitting the nose of lever D to again engage the ratchet C. This position of 'the lever D does not interfere with the further rotation of the ratchet in the operation of the machine, but will prevent any winding action without first introducing another coin. It is to be observed that while the spring is being wound stud c strikes against the front of lever F and pushes it out of the way without disturbing lever E.

. The reproducer is mounted upon a carrier 5 rear of the lever F and pushes it out of the that is driven along the feed-screw by means of a partial nut in the usual manner and hasa rearwardly-extending shifting-lever G for throwing the reproducer and the nut into and out of engagement with the sound-record and feed-screw, respectively.

ll is a bar or bail pivot-ed at h h to the bearing-plates A and A. The main portion of the bar or bail is trough -shaped and fits around the end of the shifting-lever G, so as to have sliding engagement therewith. Vhen the bail II is in its lower position, the reprod ucer is lifted away from the record and the nut from the feed-screw; but when the bail is lifted it throws these parts into operative engagement in the well-known manner. A spring II, located in the trough of the bail, serves to retract the carriage, with the reproducer, to its initial position when the nut is released from the feed-screw.

Sound is conveyed from the reproducer through a flexible tube I, which passes rearward over the sound-record, as shown, and has a telescopic engagement with a collar free to turn on a standard J. The upper portion of J is hollow and communicates by means of an opening in its side with the tube ii. The end of standard .I projects through the boxing that incloses the machine and carries the horn or tube. (Not shown.)

Referring to the mechanism for operating the bail II, L (see Figs. 2 and 4C) is a stud on the outer side of bearing-plate A", upon which turns a large toothed wheel M and a catchlever N. The upper end of N is offset above M, so as to lie in the same plane with and rest against the arm of bail I'I. Projecting down from the arm of the bail II is trigger-lever h which lies between bearing plate A and wheel M. On M are two studs m m, the latter projecting on both sides of the wheel M. Fast in plate A is a cross-bar O, at each end of which is a coiled spring, one,P, being connected to). and the other, P, to H. A tooth b is set in winding-shaft I so as to engage the teeth of wheel M and turn the same one tooth at each revolution of the shaft 13.

The operation of the parts is as follows: \Vhile the machine is being Wound up each revolution of the shaft 13 turns wheel M, through tooth Z), one tooth forward in the direction indicated by the arrow. In the course of winding the inner end of the pin in strikes against the end of the trigger-lever h and pushes it forward, moving it out of the way of the nose of the catch-lever N against a stop-pin a on bearing-plate A thereby lifting bail. II against the action of the spring P. Spring P simultaneously pulls catch-lever N forward, so that its hook it engages with nose 7L2, thereby holding the bail in elevated position, so as to throw the reproducer and nut into operative positions. The stoppin a limits the play of the bail II and prevents the spring of the motor from being wound beyond the point desired. \Vhen the operator has finished winding and released the handle of the winding, crank-wheel M is turned by shaft B in the opposite direction, andin the course of its revolutions the other pin on strikes against the shoulder a on catch-lever N, disengaging the catch-hook n from the nose 7L2 on bail II, whereupon the latter, aided by spring P, falls, and thus lifts reproducer from the record and disengages the partial nut from the screw, thus permitting spring II to pull the carriage back to its initial position. used as a buffer to prevent shock when the spring thus returns the carriage. Further running of the machine is prevented by the inner end of pin m bearing against stop-pin a.

It will of course be understood that the various parts are so proportioned that during the time necessary to reproduce a complete record (while the reproducer is borne by the carriage from one end of the sound-record to the other) wheel M revolves just far enough to carry it from the position where m lies against 7L3 to where m strikes a.

To prevent wrenching the parts or breaking a cog when the winding mechanism is locked or fully wound up, I provide a friction-clutch between the crank and winding-shaft. A barrel R is fitted to one end of the windingshaft B by means of a slot therein engaging a pin 0 on the shaft and has fixed thereon the plates or disks R, while disks S, having prolongations that carry the handle T, are inter posed between them, having only frictional engagement therewith, the amount of friction being controlled by the screw R It will be understood that the frictional engagement is so regulated that there is no relative movement between the parts of the clutch during the normal winding action of the crank, but that when any unusual resistance is encountered, as when the spring is fully wound up or locked, the clutch slips, and thus prevents breakage.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim is 1. In a coin-controlled graphophone the combination of a pivoted controlling bar whose movements throw the reproducer into and out of operative position, a toothed wheel having a projecting lug engaging an arm on said controlling-bar at one point in the revolution of said wheel, whereby the bar is tilted to throw the reproducer into operative position, a stop limiting the throw of said bar, a winding-shafthaving a tooth thereon engaging said toothed wheel,a ratchet-wheel on said shaft, a lug projecting therefrom, a pawl-1ever having a nose on one end engaging said ratchet and the other end in proximity to a coin-chute, a pin on said pawl-lever, a pivoted lever engaging said pin and limiting the tilting movement of the pawl-lever and having a part depending in the path of the pin on the ratchet-wheel, substantially as described.

2. In a coin-controlled graphophone the combination of a driving-spring, a windingshaft therefor, a ratchet-wheel th crcon, a tilt A leather washer G may be ICO IIO

ing coin-lever having a pawl-nose engaging said ratchet-wheel, a pivoted bar whose movements throw the reproducer of the graphophone into or out of operative position, means limiting the tilting movement of the bar in either direction, a toothed Wheel havinga projecting lug engaginga depending arm on said bar at one point in the revolution of said wheel, a catch holding said bar in'position for the reproducer to operate, means on said toothed wheel tripping said catch before the wheel makes a complete revolution, a'tooth on the winding-shaft engaging said toothed wheel, and means limiting the turning movement of said wheel in either direction, substantially as described.

3. In a coin-controlled graphophone the combination of a driving-spring, a Windingshaft therefor, 23 coin-operated lever controlling the winding movement thereof, a pivoted bar throwing the reproducer of the graphophone into and out of operative position, a catch for engaging and holding said bar in operative position, a toothed wheel having a lug for engaging an arm or lever on said bar to throw the latter into operative position, a lug on said wheel tripping said catch during the reverse revolution of the Wheel, and a tooth on the winding-shaft engaging said wheel, substantially as described.

4. In a coin-controlled graphophone the combination of a winding-shaft, a pivoted bar throwing the reproducer of the graphophone into and out of operative position, a toothed wheel having a lug engaging and throwing said bar into operative position during the winding, a catch engaging and. retaining the bar in said position, a lug on said toothed wheel tripping said catch during the reverse .movement of the wheel, and a tooth on the winding-shaft engaging said toothed wheel, substantially as described.

5. In a coin-controlled graphophone the combination of a driving-spring, a Windingshaft therefor, and coin-controlled devices normally locking the same against Winding, with means limiting the Winding and unwinding of thespring, a catch retaining the reproducer in operative position and means operated by the winding-shaft during its unwinding movement to trip said catch, substantially as described.

6. In a coin controlled graphophone the combination of a driving-spring, a Windingshaft therefor, a ratchet-wheel on said shaft, a pawl-lever having one end in proximity to a coin-chute and a noseon the other end engaging said ratchet-wheel, a stop in position to limit the tilting action of the pawl-lever, and tripping means on the ratchet-Wheel to free said lever, substantially as described In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscrib= ing witnesses.

THOMAS H. MACDONALD. Witnesses:

W. I. STARR, R. IRWIN SMITH. 

